10 Best Dog Food For Pitbulls In 2023 (Reviews)

Contrary to popular opinion, the term Pit Bull doesn’t describe a particular type of dog breed.

Four types of dog breeds including the American Bulldog, American Bully, American Pit Bull Terrier, Staffordshire Bull Terrier, and the American Staffordshire are all covered by the generic term.

While they all have distinguishing traits, central to these breeds are their muscular body builds and their tendency to grow fairly larger than most other dogs.

When choosing the best dog food for Pitbulls, it is important you weigh in these factors and select a nutritionally adequate feed for your dog.

As Pitbulls are athletic by genetics, their feeds should often be spiced up with proteins, carbohydrates, and fat just as you have with human athletes.

You shouldn’t feed them low-quality food on account of top-grade food being expensive.

This is because, apart from having them wind up malnourished, they could be predisposed to a number of health issues, most notably heart failure.

Upon deciding on any type of food, feel free to consult further with the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) for a statement affirming that the feed is indeed suitable for your dog’s size and age.

A Quick Comparison of Good Dog Food for Pitbulls in 2023

The 10 Best Dog Food for Pitbulls

1. Best Overall: Wellness Chicken & Oatmeal Recipe Dry Dog Food

This made-in-USA 100% natural dry dog feed was specially made with ingredients that contain glucosamine, probiotics, taurine, and Omega fatty acids.

These supplements provide well-rounded nutritional support for your K9 as well as ensure healthy skin. 

It is developed without any artificial additives, fillers, or genetically modified organisms.

You need never worry about your Bulldog developing any incidents of illness as the feed has been ratified by AAFCO.

2. Best Value: Taste of the Wild High Prairie Pitbull Dog Food

The Taste of the Wild Dog Food contains roasted meat which further improves on the flavor.

Likewise, the diet comes infused with antioxidant supplements that see to your dog developing a nicer coat and minimizing the chances of him developing skin conditions.

To make sure your dog starts getting the right nutrition from its early days, it is vital to consider a feed such as Taste of the Wild High Prairie Dog Food.

You hardly find similar nutritionally adequate feed priced so affordably.

3. Best for Puppies: Purina ONE SmartBlend Puppy Formula Food

On account of their developing body systems, puppies tend to have different diet needs compared with adult Pitbulls.

Due to this, adult feeds might be incompatible and possibly even harmful when fed to them.

On this basis, the Purina SmartBlend has specially formulated this feed which is composed of 28% protein content in addition to DHA plus Calcium and Phosphorus for Strong Bones.

DHA helps with the development of cognitive faculties.

The feed is likewise made with zero fillers and as such, it’s somewhat easier for young puppies to digest.

4. Best for Adults: Crave Adult Grain-Free High-Protein Dry Dog Food

As Pitbulls age, their diet likewise changes to accommodate for new modifications to their body systems.

For example, senior Bulldogs usually require more Calcium and Phosphorus supplements compared with middle-aged bulldogs. 

Luckily, Crave Adult Gain has taken care of all the hard work for you.

The feed is not only rich in protein content(34%), it is also well supplemented with grains which reduces the risk of heart failure.

You need never worry about your Terrier developing health complications as there are no artificial additives or preservatives in the feed.

5. Best for Pitbulls with Skin Allergies: Hill’s Science Dog Food for Sensitive Skin

It’s not unusual for Pitbulls to develop skin allergies. When this happens, you need to resort to a specialist diet.

That’s where specially formulated feed like Hill’s Science Dog Food comes into play.

The Hill’s Science Dog Food comes with it’s specially made mix of antioxidants, vitamins and minerals, all which work toward improving your Pitbull’s skin and coat and also further strengthen its immune system.

In a case where your Bull Terrier is dealing with extreme skin ailments including hotspots and yeast growth, changing to this diet could help clear its wounds and itches in under two months.

6. Best for Weight Loss:  Merrick Grain-Free Healthy-Weight Dry Dog Food

In the scenario where your Bull Terrier is overweight and you would like to help them trim weight, we urge you consider the Merrick Grain-Free Healthy Diet.

This feed is composed of a high protein content of 55%.

As a weight loss diet, there is zero fat content and as such the 45% remnant is made of a blend of high-quality fiber and supplements of vitamins and minerals.

Most notable of the supplements are glucosamine and chondroitin which improve hip and joint functions in senior Pitbulls.

In addition, high concentrations of Omega fatty acids present improve skin and coat conditions.

We enthusiastically recommend this product.

7. Best to Gain Muscle: Bully Max High Performance Super Premium Dog Food

If you’re in the market for a high-grade feed to enable your Pitbull to gain weight safely, you might want to try out the Bully Max Premium Dog Food.

With each serving of the Bully Max comes 535 calories, more than you get with most other dog food in the same category.

One of the other great things about the Bully Max is that there are no artificial additives or fillers present in the feed.

You should expect that each serving will be accompanied with 20% fat content alongside 30% protein content, easily making it one of the high calorie-dense dog feeds there is.

8. ACANA Diet Duck & Pumpkin Recipe Dry Dog Food

In a situation where your vet prescribed a single protein source for your canine friend, we urge you consider the ACANA Diet Duck & Pumpkin Recipe Dry Food. 

With Duck as its first ingredient and zero concentrates of plant proteins, the ACANA is nutritionally equipped to support a healthy gut and improve the function of the cognitive and blood transport system.

The absence of plant proteins and consequently rough fibers makes it easier for your Pitbull to chew and digest.

Like with all other good dog food for Pitbulls on this list, the ACANA is free of artificial preservatives or additives.

9. Diamond Naturals Chicken & Rice Formula Dry Dog Food

Diamond Naturals Chicken & Rice Dry Dog Food is what an animal nutritionist would describe as holistic and balanced.

The diet has been fortified with probiotics that see to your dog’s overall development and health well-being.

With chicken as its first ingredient, the diet is suited for dogs from all life stages. 

10. Earthborn Holistic Great Plains Feast Grain-Free Natural Dry Dog Food

Made from protein-dense red bison meat extra fortified with Amino acids, the Earthborn Holistic Great Plains Feast sees to the growth and development of a lean muscle mass for your dog.

Additionally supplemented with L-Carnitine, the feed ensures proper burning off of excess fat to produce a moderate weight, athletic-looking dog.

The feed is tagged a ‘feast’ on the basis of it having been blended with nutrient-dense vegetables and fruits such as apples, carrots, spinach, and cranberries well-known for their high content of antioxidants.

These strengthen your Pitbull’s immune system and improve their overall health.

Buyer’s Guide: How to Choose the Best Dog Food for Pitbulls

With your new pup, one of the foremost tasks you want to take care of right away is to get them on the proper food and diet plan.

The wrong selection could lead to a nightmare of malnourishment and health complications.

Dull eyes, mood swings, dandruff-ridden coat, and an excess deposit of body fat are all indications your Terrier is on a wrong diet and you probably should consult with a pet nutritionist for a change.

Like you, we are dog owners, and as such we know you wish your dogs a long joy-filled life.

To give them this, you need to realize dogs are unique on the basis of their breeds, size, and activity levels.

A Labrador is not as muscular as a Staffordshire Terrier or Rottweiler Pitbull mix and as such would not require the same Protein-dense feed Pitbulls are fed.

On the other hand, placing a hyper-active mature Bulldog on the same recommended feed for a less-active Labrador would likely leave your Terrier malnourished.

We urge that you follow the basic tips outlined below when deciding on the best food to feed your dogs.

1. Check to see if the feed is nutritionally adequate

The nutritional demand for dogs varies with breed, age, and sizes.

As pointed out earlier, the Labrador and the Pitbull, two popular breeds in the USA, need different portions of concentrates in their diet on the basis of their different physiological requirements.

Likewise with age ranges.

A puppy would need a greater supplement of Calcium and Phosphorus in its diet to support its developing bones and likewise the infusion of DHA, a nutrient found in the mother’s milk, for well-rounded cognitive development. 

Regardless of your Pitbull’s stage of development, you want to check for the presence of Omega-3 and Omega-6 fatty acids in their diet.

It’s not enough checking for the presence of these acids: you want to be sure their concentrations are well-balanced.

It’s important your Pitbull’s diet is well supplemented with Omega-3 because: 

• The presence of Omega-3 improves your dog’s skin condition as well as its utilization of body energy. 
• Omega-3 exhibits anti-inflammatory tendencies and as such relieves dogs suffering from arthritis or allergies.

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2. Examine the Calorie Content

Different pet foods come with varied calorie content.

Pet feed with a high-calorie content is infinitely more likely to make your Pitbull obese compared with one not so high in calories.

To help with these differences, manufacturers provide a feeding guideline alongside their products.

But as it is, the guidelines only take into account the energy density of the food content but not the energy burnt by your Pitbull in its everyday activities.

We recommend you make your own careful observations over time as to how your Terrier’s size changes with respect to their food serving.

In the scenario where your Pitbull does get overweight, it is not enough to simply serve them less of the high-calorie food.

You would only end up with an irascible, hungry, and malnourished dog.

Pet nutritionists advise switching to a diet plan lower in calories so you do not run the risk of inadvertently malnourish your pooch.

3. Factor in the Life Stage of your Pitbull

Pitbulls at different life stages have different dietary requirements.

For example, Senior Pitbulls (6 years or older) need a diet well supplemented with Gamma-linolenic Acid, Fructooligosaccharides, Vitamin E, and Beta Carotine that collectively keep their skin in good condition, improve gut health and eliminate bacteria harmful to body tissues.

With puppies, we recommend sticking to a feed free of fillers and made from a single protein source.

Pups usually find such food easier to chew and digest.

Guidelines to feeding schedules should be set to minimize risks of your pups developing health complications due to overfeeding.

Adults dogs (within 18 months to 6 years) usually need a greater degree of attention to detail when deciding on what to feed them with.

Unlike puppies that are generally inactive and do not exert a lot of energy daily, you need to factor your dog’s level of activity, outdoor temperatures, and workload when selecting a feed as more calories burnt implies more portions of food servings.

4. Steer Clear off ‘Poison’

Human and Canine biochemistry are incompatible and as such, some food combinations you probably enjoy should never be on the menu for your Bulldog.

From Vomiting to Kidney Failure, these foods could prove fatal if fed to your dog.

We’ve examined the more common below:

• Cheese and Milk Products – can cause dehydration due to diarrhea
• Chocolate – vomiting, diarrhea, seizures are a bit of what your K9 has in the offing if he consumes this.
• Grapes – causes diarrhea, pH imbalance, and kidney failure when fed to dogs. Never bring this near them.
• Garlic – very lethal. Ruptures your dog’s red blood cells and reduces oxygen supply to vital organs including the brain.
• Raw Fish – can cause seizures and eventually death if fed to dogs.
• Raw eggs – has an enzyme that causes food poisoning and skin problems.

5. Consider Blending Dry & Wet Dog Foods

Dry dog food, also called Kibble, tends to be more preferred by most dog owners as they are very affordable and eliminate the need for food refrigeration.

With canned food, they contain more water content and tend to be more nutritionally rounded compared with Kibble.

Animal nutritionists usually recommend mixing both food types to strike a positive balance between cost and nutritional content.

Other reasons why you should consider mixing both include:

• Wet food offers greater flavor most dogs find it easy to digest.
• The greater water content in wet food helps with dogs with kidney stones.
• Kibble allows for stress-free storage and feeding.
• Dry food is likewise cost-effective and easy to measure for diet servings.
• Additionally, the presence of two varied flavors increases the taste options and can greatly help with picky eaters.

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Related Questions

Also Read:
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Final Thoughts 

Now that you’ve decided on new good dog food for your Pitbull and certified that it’s suitable for their age and size with your animal nutritionist and, possibly, the AAFCO, you should think of transitioning them off their previous diet.

Usually, you do this over a week or two by introducing bits of the new feed initially and subsequently incrementing the feed portion over the weeks until your Bulldog is now well familiar with the taste.

Search for signs of bodily discontent with the new diet. This mostly manifests as excessive stooling or vomiting.

If your dog exhibits any, then it’s time to find a new feed that likewise keeps them well-nourished and also compatible with their unique body makeup.

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